WestChesterBuzz.com

Supporters of President Barack Obama reach to shake his hand after he spoke at a rally at Fifth Third Arena on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Photo by Enquirer Sunday Nov. 4, 2012.

For those who didn’t send in their absentee ballots or can’t vote by Monday’s 2 p.m. early voting deadline in Butler County (available only at the county board of elections office), below are some helpful online tools to find out what exactly is on your ballot when you go to vote on Election Day.

In West Chester and Liberty Township, some of the more significant races that will be on your ballot include the Presidential, U.S. Senate, Butler County Commission, 52nd House District and Ohio Supreme Court races.

On Election Day, polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Results from absentee and early voters is expected to be released by the Butler County Board of Elections shortly after 7:30 p.m.

Ohio poll: Tight race now even tighter - Jane Prendergast reports for The Cincinnati Enquirer that the race for the White House continues to be too close to call in Ohio, according to a new Enquirer/Ohio News Organization Poll that shows President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney each with 49 percent support from likely voters.

Mitt Romney talks at rally in West Chester in front of 30,000 supporters on Nov. 2, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

Enquirer presidential endorsement: Mitt Romney –The Cincinnati Enquirer recently endorsed Mitt Romney for president, calling President Barack Obama’s four years of recovery too slow and too weak. To read more, visit the Enquirer’s Election page.

Is that true? Get your fact-checks here – Gannett’s Jeffrey Bruner takes a closer look at what Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are saying on the campaign trail – then explaining if what they are saying is fact or fiction.

Obama, Romney make last push in tight race - President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney attacked one another Sunday in frenzied campaigning two days before the presidential election, closing out what has been one of the most negative races for the White House in recent memory, Steven R. Hurst reported for the Associated Press. Polling showed the candidates in a virtual tie for the popular vote nationwide, with Obama holding a slight lead in the all-important battleground states that will decide the outcome.

Obama at UC: ‘Our fight goes on’ – Enquirer staff: With the finish line in sight, President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney raced back to Ohio on Sunday, delivering a combination of red-meat rhetoric and impassioned get-out-the-vote pleas as part of a final campaign blitz before Election Day.

30,000 jam West Chester to hear Romney – Enquirer staff: The presidential race returned to Ohio for the final push Friday as GOP challenger Mitt Romney held a massive rally in the Republican heartland north of Cincinnati and President Barack Obama cut a swath through central Ohio. Romney spoke to a crowd of 30,000, according to West Chester Fire chief Tony Goller – making it the largest rally of the campaign, said Romney spokesman Chris Maloney.

Senate numbers creep closer - Deirdre Shesgreen reports: Ohio’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race has tightened in recent weeks, with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown snagging the support of 51 percent versus 47 percent for Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel, according to a new Cincinnati Enquirer/Ohio News Organization poll.

Enquirer senate endorsement: Brown dedicated to Ohio’s needs, problems – The Cincinnati Enquirer recently endorsed Sen. Sherrod Brown, pointing to his personality, while not honed in charm school, has been mostly an asset to the Ohio working people and businesses that he’s stood up for.

Butler County race features fresh faces, strong ideas – Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week on the Butler County commissioners race: Three political newbies are vying for a seat on the board of commissioners in Butler County, where spending is the resounding theme in a community that is steeped in debt and faces $900,000 in cuts to get through the end of the year.

PRIMER: 52nd House District - Patrick Wolande writes about the 52nd District State Representative candidates Branden Rudie (Democrat), Bob Coogan (Libertarian) and Margaret Conditt (Republican).

PRIMER: Ohio Supreme Court - Dan Horn of The Cincinnati Enquirer writes about the Ohio Supreme Court races between Mike Skindell (Democrat) and Terrence O’Donnell (Republican); Bill O’Neill (Democrat) and Robert Cupp (Republican); and Yvette McGree Brown (Democrat) and Sharon Kennedy (Republican).

The Butler County Board of Elections office is located at 1802 Princeton Road in Hamilton.

Posted in: Election, Events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: 52nd House District election, 52nd House District race, Butler County commission race, Butler County Commissioner electiion, Butler County Commissioners, Butler County Election 2012, election 2012, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, presidential election, presidential election Ohio, presidential race Ohio, U.S. Senate Ohio election, U.S. Senate Ohio race, West Chester election

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

30,000 jam West Chester for Mitt Romney rally – Cindi Andrews and Paul Kostyu reported on last Friday’s Mitt Romney rally: The presidential race returned to Ohio for the final push Friday as GOP challenger Mitt Romney held a massive rally in the Republican heartland north of Cincinnati and President Barack Obama cut a swath through central Ohio. Romney spoke to a crowd of 30,000, according to West Chester Fire chief Tony Goller – making it the largest rally of the campaign, said Romney spokesman Chris Maloney.

Senior Chamada Palmore races 80 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter in a 45-38 win at Springboro. It was the first postseason game in Lakota East history. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com. For more photos from this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/110312east_spring

Lakota East wins OT thriller 45-38 against Springboro -It took 16 years for Lakota East to earn its first trip to the postseason in school history, but it only took one try to win its first playoff game as the Thunderhawks defeated Springboro 45-38 in overtime at CareFlight Field in front of more than 5,000 cold fans on the campus of Springboro High School last Saturday. Lakota East will now play Moeller in the regional semifinal at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium at 2 p.m. this Saturday.

Fricker’s in West Chester scheduled to open mid-January - A Dayton-based wing joint is poised to open a new location in West Chester off Tylersville Road in mid-January, Fricker’s director of human resources and franchising Paul Curtis told WestChesterBuzz.com last week. The new Fricker’s will be located at 7844 Kingland Drive.

East vs. West food drive brings in roughly 74,000 cans - Lakota East may have won the football game, but the winner of the annual food drive was Lakota West High School. Principals of both high schools said last week that the entire Lakota school district donated roughly 74,000 cans to Reach Out Lakota in just one week.

Lakota West falls in penalty kicks to Mason in regional final -Lakota West lost its regional final matchup with Mason Saturday. The game was scoreless through regulation and through the 30-minute sudden victory overtime. The Comets then won in penalty kicks, 2-1.

Lakota East senior Anna Starr had 36 assists and 11 digs in 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 loss to Ursuline Saturday in the regional final at Lebanon High School. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com.For more photos from this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/110312east

Lakota East comes up short in volleyball regional final - The Ursuline Lions continued the tradition of Girls Greater Cincinnati League volleyball teams winning local regional titles with a 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 win against Lakota East on Saturday at Lebanon High School. For the Thunderhawks, it was their first time in the school’s 16-year history that they advanced to the regional semifinal. The loss also marks the end of the high school career of one of the state’s top players in Purdue commit Ashley Evans, who finished the match with a game-high 19 kills and 8 digs.

Lawyer to fight West Chester’s Lady Liberty ruling - The fight to put Lady Liberty back out on a busy street corner in West Chester Township next tax season isn’t over, Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week. The 12th District Court of Appeals has ruled against Liberty Tax Service’s “waver,” saying West Chester gave the company a fair shake in hearings to decide whether the mascot was allowed under the township’s sign code. Last Tuesday, the company’s lawyer asked the appeals court to take another look at the case before the constitutionality question is broached.

Reach Out Lakota seeks gifts and coats for holidays - Reach Out Lakota is seeking volunteers for its adopt-a-child program and donations for its winter coat drive to help families in need this holiday season. The adopt-a-child program will provide approximately 1,000 local children with gifts during the holidays. Reach Out Lakota officials hope to provide each registered child with two $25 gifts.

Posted in: Business, Election, Fall sports, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, campaign, election, election 2012, Fricker's, Fricker's Cincinnati, Fricker's West Chester, John Boehner, Lakota East, Lakota East at Springboro, Lakota East at Springboro postseason, Lakota East football, Liberty Township business news, Liberty Township restaurant opening, Liberty Township restaurants, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Ohio football postseason, Ohio football postseason Lakota East, Paul Ryan, presidential election, republican, Square at Union Centre, West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester election, West Chester Library, West Chester restaurant opening, West Chester restaurants

Cindi Andrews and Paul Kostyu report:

The presidential race returned to Ohio for the final push Friday as GOP challenger Mitt Romney held a massive rally in the Republican heartland north of Cincinnati and President Barack Obama cut a swath through central Ohio.

Romney spoke to a crowd of 30,000, according to West Chester Fire chief Tony Goller – making it the largest rally of the campaign, said Romney spokesman Chris Maloney.

“The question of the election comes down to this: Do you want more of the same or do you want real change?” Romney asked. “I promise change, and I actually have a record of achieving it.”

Both candidates are trying to make up for campaign time lost to super-storm Sandy and deliver their final arguments to voters before Tuesday’s election.

Obama, in his first Ohio trip since Sandy struck the East Coast, said in Lima on Friday afternoon that the policies of previous Republican administrations didn’t work.

“Ohio, we’ve tried our ideas and they work,” he said. “We’ve tried the other folks’ ideas. They don’t work. The eight years before I took office, we tried their ideas. What did we get? We got falling incomes, record deficits … and an economic crisis that we’ve been cleaning up after ever since.”

Ann and Mitt Romney share a moment at a rally in West Chester Nov. 2, 2012. During Romney’s speech he said that Obama asked voters to vote for revenge but “I ask the American people to vote for love of country.” Photo by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

Obama will make what’s almost certainly his last Cincinnati stop of the campaign at the University of Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena on Sunday evening, while Romney will be in Cleveland. And the candidates will campaign right down to the wire in Ohio – both have announced events in Columbus on Monday.

Kid Rock opened the Romney event, which also included appearances by a lengthy list of top Republicans, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

“This is like having the Republican National Convention come here,” said Ohio Rep. Margaret Conditt of nearby Liberty Township. “All of the speakers that we saw in Tampa are here, except for Clint Eastwood, of course.”

Romney noted that unemployment is higher than when Obama took office, although the final pre-election report, released Friday, showed 171,000 new jobs added in October. The Labor Department also revised August and September jobs numbers upward. The unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in October, from 7.8 percent in September, as more workers re-entered the labor force.

“Candidate Obama promised to do so very much, but he has fallen so very short,” Romney said. “He was going to focus on jobs, then he focused on Obamacare, which killed jobs.”

Romney said that Obama asked voters to vote for revenge but “I ask the American people to vote for love of country.”

Obama actually said, “Voting is the best revenge.”

Romney also promised to bring bipartisanship to Washington.

“If I’m elected – no, when I’m elected – president, I’m doing to work with … men and women on both sides of the aisle who care about our country,” he said.

Obama visited Hilliard, Springfield and, lastly, Lima, which hasn’t hosted a sitting Democratic president since Harry Truman in 1948. In his first trip to Ohio since super-storm Sandy devastated the East Coast and prompted both campaigns to cancel rallies, he said the nation mourns those killed in the storm.

“No matter how bad things are, we’re in this together,” Obama said. “We rise and fall as one nation. That has guided this country for 200 years and the last four years.”

He told the crowd in Hilliard that Americans need a champion in Washington. He said the middle class, the poor and small business owners need a seat at the table.

“The folks at the very top of this country don’t need another seat at the table,” the president said.

“The people who need a champion are those whose letters I read every night. Cooks, waiters and cleaning staff at a hotel, they need a champion. The auto worker … now back in the plant, he needs a champion. Those kids dreaming of becoming scientists … or even president, they need a champion in Washington. We’ve come back too far to become faint-hearted.”

Posted in: Election, Events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, campaign, election, election 2012, John Boehner, MidPointe Library, MidPointe Library System, MidPointe Library West Chester, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Paul Ryan, presidential election, republican, Square at Union Centre, tickets, union centre, West Chester, West Chester election, West Chester Library

Mitt Romney wraps up his speech during a rally in West Chester Nov. 2, 2012. The event drew 30,000 supporters. Photo by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

The Mitt Romney rally in West, which is being locally referred by some to be Ohio’s version of the Republican National Convention, has just begun.

“I think the excitement level is pretty high. This is like having the Republican National Convention come here,” Ohio State Representative Margaret Conditt said. “All of the speakers that we saw in Tampa are here, except for Clint Eastwood of course.”

This event does have Kid Rock, however, who is expected to perform musically and not show off his acting chops, which were depicted in movies like “Joe Dirt” and “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.”

While, Rock’s film career isn’t comparable to Eastwood’s, the overall guest list at West Chester’s rally is comparable with the party’s convention in August with the likes of 2008 Presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain, House Speaker John Boehner, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, Olympian Scott Hamilton and legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.

Also in West Chester backing Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, are their families. Romneys – Josh, Tagg (and Jen), Matt (and Laurie), Ben and Craig (and Mary) will support their dad along with wife Ann Romney; and Janna Ryan will be on hand to support her husband.

“The enthusiasm is just tremendous,” Butler County Republican chairman David Kern said while waiting for the event to start. “This is going to be the biggest event for Governor Mitt Romney and certainly by far exceeding what the President is drawing in. We are going to outdo him here.”

The consensus among local Republicans, the event is expected to attract 25,000 people and, in their opinion, proves that Southwest Ohio backs Mitt Romney.

“With 25,000 or 30,000 of our closest friends, I think this sends a clear message that Southwest Ohio is strongly in favor of electing a new President,” Ohio Senator Bill Coley said.

To follow along, please follow @westchesterbuzz and @PaulEKostyu (Paul Kostyu of The Cincinnati Enquirer), @cindiincincy on Twitter and check this post for updates throughout.

Local Republicans talk about the rally

Ohio State Representative Margaret Conditt

“This is the most important election in my lifetime. We cannot truly afford another four more years of an economic decline, military decline, morale decline – we can’t afford spending more than we are bringing in. We are already at a $16 trillion deficit and Obama added $6 trillion during his four-year term. If he had four more years, you would just expect more of the same and that will literally bankrupt our country, put the debt on our children and grandchildren and that it is immoral. That is just immoral. We cannot afford four more years.

“And Mitt Romney is a businessman who has turned around failing businesses and he can turn around our country. It is not too late.”

Ohio Senator Bill Coley

“This election is hugely going to turn on the new vision for the country and it is going to require Southwest Ohio to turn out in mass to carry the state of Ohio for Governor Romney. I think the campaign wanted an event here to kind of set the tone for the final 96 hours of the campaign.

“In my days as Senator I have been campaigning all over the state of Ohio for Republicans and, it is funny, it is drastically different than it was four years ago. The optimism that people had in the election of President Obama has turned into pretty solid disappointment around the state. That is why people are giving a close look to Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. You can kind of sense a genuine excitement and enthusiasm about this campaign; and I think we are going to be successful.

“The biggest thing Mitt Romney brings is the ability to work on both sides of the aisle. Any way you look at it, he is going to be dealing with a House and a Senate where there won’t be large majorities of any party and you need a leader who has demonstrated ability to work on both sides of the aisle. With Romney being a Republican Governor of Massachusetts, a state where 85 percent of legislature was Democrats, the guy has that ability. With what we have seen, the White House, does not have the ability to work on both sides of the aisle. That is one of the big things.

West Chester Township Trustee George Lang

“This is huge, there will be over 25,000 people in attendance, this is not the biggest event that has ever taken place in West Chester in terms of size, we had a George W. Bush rally eight years ago that had 50,000 people, however I do feel this is the biggest event we have ever had in terms of importance to our country. I believe if President Obama is reelected, the Republic as we know it will be over.

“This is Boehner Country, and the Heart and Soul of the conservative movement. I believe that the Romney campaign wanted to save the best for last, the reason they picked West Chester is because we are proof that a smaller more limited government is what is best for America. As a township, we have a lower tax base, and simpler zoning and regulation codes that allow businesses to flourish and prosper by experiencing higher profits. This is similar with Mitt Romney’s vision and message for America.

“I am amazed at how our township staff has responded to this event, the planning and coordination that has taken place has been Herculaneum. The efforts of our police and fire departments, along with our entire administration led by our Administrator Judi Boyko has been amazing. Our public service workers are the best in the state, and I appreciate their efforts.”

Butler County Republican chairman David Kern

“There are people here that I have never seen at political rally before – the Independent, the unaffiliated – the people we are trying to recruit. Those are people are on our side in this election. It is huge.”

“This country has to make a decision and will make that decision this Tuesday if we want to remain a free Republic or a socialist nation along the lines of Europe – a second class nation.”

PHOTOS BY ADAM KIEFABER

Posted in: Election, Events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, campaign, election, election 2012, John Boehner, MidPointe Library, MidPointe Library System, MidPointe Library West Chester, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Paul Ryan, presidential election, republican, Square at Union Centre, tickets, union centre, West Chester, West Chester election, West Chester Library

Mitt Romney encourages people to vote early as he speaks at Jet Machine in Roselawn last Thursday, Oct. 25. Photo taken by Leigh Taylor. Romney will be in West Chester Friday, Nov. 2, just a few days prior to Election Day.

On Thursday afternoon, the Mitt Romney camp announced that Friday’s rally would open at 3:30 p.m. instead of the previously scheduled time of 4:30 p.m.

Another detail mentioned by Romney’s camp on Thursday was that there will be special musical performance by Kid Rock.

In addition to Mitt and Ann Romney and Paul and Janna Ryan, the event is expected to have the following Republicans as well: U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester; U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida; U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota; Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona; U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, R-Alabama; Texas Gov. Rick Perry; and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

Due to the size of the event, it will not exactly take place at The Square at Union Centre. The event will take place on the grass, which is now privately owned and is expected to be eventually developed into high-end apartments and a hotel, in front of The Square.

Parking will be available at Lakota West High School, West Chester Library (which will close at noon) and at the Union Centre Boulevard Pavilion (old Bigg’s shopping center) at the corner of Union Centre and 747 (this parking location will feature a shuttle service).

There will be other areas also designated for parking.

Businesses in the Union Centre area (around the Square) will remain open during tonight’s event. The Township is asking that those attending the rally be respectful of those businesses and their operations by using designated parking for the event.

Parking is not allowed in the lots of those businesses that are continuing to operate. Parking is also not allowed along roadways. The Township is also requesting that motorists don’t try to pull over and drop people off along the roadways near the event for safety reasons.

Furthermore, some road closures are already in place and will remain in place through the conclusion of the event.

At this time, Centre Pointe Drive has been closed from just west of the AK Steel/Duke/West Chester Towne Square entrance and just east of the Library entrance. West Chester Towne Centre Drive is closed south of Centre Loop, including the roundabout. The Square at Union Centre has also been closed.

It is possible that these announced road closures may be further impacted and other closures in the area may be required due to security.

Heavy traffic and potentially long delays are expected near the I-75 Interchange at Union Centre Boulevard and the Square at Union Centre.

The program is scheduled to begin sometime around 7 and 7:30 p.m. (media has been told 7:30, while public is being told 7).

Posted in: Election, Events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, campaign, election, election 2012, John Boehner, MidPointe Library, MidPointe Library System, MidPointe Library West Chester, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Paul Ryan, presidential election, republican, Square at Union Centre, tickets, union centre, West Chester, West Chester election, West Chester Library

In collaboration with West Chester Township, the MidPointe Library West Chester, located at 9363 Centre Pointe Drive, will be closing early at noon this Friday to ease traffic in the area resulting from the scheduled Mitt Romney political rally at the Square at Union Centre.

The announcement of the noon closing came at 3 p.m. Thursday. Earlier in the week, the library announced that it would close at 3 p.m. Friday.

“We will attempt to stay open as late as possible, but our closing time will be based upon the recommendations of the Secret Service,” said MidPointe Library System director Anita Carroll.

The Republican presidential candidate will be joined by his wife, Ann, and their five sons, running mate Paul Ryan and his wife, Janna, and an estimated 100 governors, senators and mayors.

It will take place at the Square Union Centre, which is located directly behind the library, at 7:30 p.m. Friday. People can start to file into the rally at 4:30 p.m. Tickets for the event list 7 p.m., but that is the “invite time” according to a release from Romney’s campaign office on Wednesday.

Posted in: Events, Library events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, MidPointe Library, MidPointe Library System, MidPointe Library West Chester, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Paul Ryan, presidential election, West Chester election, West Chester Library

In collaboration with West Chester Township, the MidPointe Library West Chester, located at 9363 Centre Pointe Drive, will be closing early at 3 p.m. this Friday to ease traffic in the area resulting from the scheduled political rally at the Square at Union Centre.

The rally is scheduled to feature Mitt Romney, his wife Ann Romney and Paul Ryan. It will take place at the Square Union Centre, which is located directly behind the library, at 7 p.m. Friday. People can start to file into the rally at 4:30 p.m.

“We will attempt to stay open as late as possible, but our closing time will be based upon the recommendations of the Secret Service,” said MidPointe Library System Director Anita Carroll.

Posted in: Election, Events, Library events, News |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, MidPointe Library, MidPointe Library System, MidPointe Library West Chester, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Paul Ryan, presidential election, West Chester election, West Chester Library

Mitt Romney encourages people to vote early as he speaks at Jet Machine in Roselawn last Thursday, Oct. 25. Photo taken by Leigh Taylor. Romney will be in West Chester Friday, Nov. 2, just a few days prior to Election Day.

For those who haven’t voted already, there are many helpful online tools to find out what exactly is on your ballot and who exactly are the candidates.

In West Chester and Liberty Township, some of the most significant races that will be on your ballot include the presidential U.S. Senate, Butler County Commission, 52nd House District and Ohio Supreme Court races.

Here are some links that you might find helpful before heading to the polls on Election Day 2012 next Tuesday.

Romneys and Ryan coming to West Chester Friday - Ann Romney will join her husband and Paul Ryan on the campaign trail here this Friday, with a stop in West Chester. The rally will be at the Square at Union Centre on Centre Pointe Drive. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., with the event starting at 7 p.m.

Enquirer presidential endorsement: Mitt Romney – The Cincinnati Enquirer recently endorsed Mitt Romney for president, calling President Barack Obama’s four years of recovery too slow and too weak. To read more, visit the Enquirer’s Election page.

Ohio poll: Tight race now even tighter - Jane Prendergast reports for The Cincinnati Enquirer that the race for the White House continues to be too close to call in Ohio, according to a new Enquirer/Ohio News Organization Poll that shows President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney each with 49 percent support from likely voters.

Enquirer senate endorsement: Brown dedicated to Ohio’s needs, problems – The Cincinnati Enquirer recently endorsed Sen. Sherrod Brown, pointing to his personality, while not honed in charm school, has been mostly an asset to the Ohio working people and businesses that he’s stood up for.

Senate numbers creep closer - Deirdre Shesgreen reports: Ohio’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race has tightened in recent weeks, with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown snagging the support of 51 percent versus 47 percent for Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel, according to a new Cincinnati Enquirer/Ohio News Organization poll.

Butler County race features fresh faces, strong ideas – Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week on the Butler County commissioners race: Three political newbies are vying for a seat on the board of commissioners in Butler County, where spending is the resounding theme in a community that is steeped in debt and faces $900,000 in cuts to get through the end of the year.

PRIMER: 52nd House District - Patrick Wolande writes about the 52nd District State Representative candidates Branden Rudie (Democrat), Bob Coogan (Libertarian) and Margaret Conditt (Republican).

PRIMER: Ohio Supreme Court - Dan Horn of The Cincinnati Enquirer writes about the Ohio Supreme Court races between Mike Skindell (Democrat) and Terrence O’Donnell (Republican); Bill O’Neill (Democrat) and Robert Cupp (Republican); and Yvette McGree Brown (Democrat) and Sharon Kennedy (Republican).

Posted in: Election, Events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: 52nd House District election, 52nd House District race, Butler County commission race, Butler County Commissioner electiion, Butler County Commissioners, Butler County Election 2012, election 2012, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, presidential election, presidential election Ohio, presidential race Ohio, U.S. Senate Ohio election, U.S. Senate Ohio race, West Chester election

Mitt Romney encourages people to vote early as he speaks at Jet Machine in Roselawn last Thursday, Oct. 25. Photo taken by Leigh Taylor.

The Enquirer reported this morning that Ann Romney will join her husband and Paul Ryan on the campaign trail here this week, with a stop in West Chester.

The campaign just announced the visit, which will be a rally at the Square at Union Centre on Centre Pointe Drive.

According to the report, doors will open at 4:30 p.m., with the event starting at 7 p.m.

The Square at Union Centre is an outdoor venue, so there are no “doors.” WestChesterBuzz.com will post more details as they come available.

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: Ann Romney, Butler County Election 2012, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Ohio, Ohio election 2012, Paul Ryan, presidential election, West Chester election

Owner of West Chester’s EnterTRAINment Junction and West Chester resident House Speaker John Boehner among top contributors

Jane Prendergast reports:

Cincinnati’s an enduring ATM during presidential campaign years.

Residents in the 15-county metropolitan area have given almost $18 million this election cycle, mostly to Mitt Romney and Republican groups, according to an Enquirer analysis of current campaign donations to individuals and political action committees.

Billionaire Carl H. Lindner is still having significant influence after his death – members of his family and employees of his American Financial Group Inc. gave almost $2 million, the biggest chunk. The family also backed Romney in the 2008 GOP nominating season.

Don Oeters, owner of EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester, gave $163,000 to FreedomWorks, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey’’s conservative super PAC that advocates for less government and lower taxes. In photo, Oeters shows off the tilt room at his A-Maze-N Funhouse at EnterTRAINment junction. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.

Residents of Indian Hill and Madeira continue to give more than in any other ZIP code in Ohio, contributing $3.6 million so far this year. The Cincinnati metropolitan area, including Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky, ranks a close second to Cleveland this season in terms of most generous Ohio metro areas, giving $13.4 million to candidates alone from the start of 2011 to date. Cleveland and Cincinnati have traded that title back and forth since at least 2000.

• Enquirer database: Individual contributions to federal candidates

The giving, though small relative to places like Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles, elevates Cincinnati’s status on the national stage and helps attract candidates here more for fundraisers and events. The metro area ranks 31st nationally for individual donations, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks donations. But that still makes it tops in Ohio.

The donor lists show some names that have been familiar money sources for years. Names like the Lindners, Richard Farmer, former chairman of Cintas Corp., and Robert Castellini, CEO of the Cincinnati Reds.

But many of this year’s donors aren’t as well known. They’re people like Don Oeters, co-owner of the Watson’s pool and spa company; radar-detector engineer Mike Valentine; the Maas family, owners of JTM Food Group in Harrison; and Stephen Rosedale, owner of CommuniCare, a Blue Ash-based nursing home company.

The Enquirer’s analysis of Federal Elections Commission data, obtained from and categorized by Open Secrets.org, included contributions of $200 or more. That may distort the overall totals and how well Obama has raised money locally, since his campaign focuses a good deal of energy on contributions under $200. Other findings from the analysis include:

• Biggest individual giver – Oeters, also owner of EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester. He gave $163,000 to FreedomWorks, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey’s conservative super PAC that advocates for less government and lower taxes. (more…)

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati individual contributions to federal candidates, Don Oeters, election 2012, EnterTrainment Junction, EnterTrainment Junction West Chester, John Boehner, John Boehner Cincinnati, John Boehner West Chester, Ohio election 2012, presidential election